Sep 29, 2026 VIA / ATD Board of Trustees Meeting

[00:00:02]

GOOD EVENING

[1. Call to Order (Part 1 of 2)]

APOLOGIES FOR THE DELAY IN OUR START TIME, BUT APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.

UH, MY NAME IS LAURA CABELLA.

I AM BOARD CHAIR AND IT IS NOW FIVE 17.

WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH, UM, THE START OF THE SPECIAL, UH, SEVEN SEPTEMBER 29 SPECIAL VIA BOARD MEETING.

LET'S BEGIN WITH ROLL CALL VICE CHAIR GOMEZ.

SECRETARY MALONE, PRESENT ASSISTANT SECRETARY COOPER PRESENT.

TRUSTEE FLORES, PRESENT TRUSTEE TO WILL TRUSTEE ARENA.

TRUSTEE DELEON.

PRESENT, TRUSTEE HOWARD, TRUSTEE FERNANDEZ AND TRUSTEE AADE PRESIDENT.

VERY GOOD, THANK YOU.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND

[2. Moment of Reflection, Pledge of Allegiance, Announcements ]

I PLEDGE ALL PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS NATION, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL OF LIBERTY INTEREST, STRONG HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG OF PGI AGAINST TO BETAN.

ONE STATE UNDER GOD.

ONE.

BE VISIBLE.

ALL RIGHT.

ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? UH, MADAM CHAIR, WE DO HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

UM, AND ACTUALLY I'D LIKE TO PASS IT OVER TO CHRIS TO MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT COLLECTIVELY WE HAVE A SURPRISE FOR OUR CHAIR.

OH, CAN I ASK RAMON TO JOIN ME AND JOHN GARY? YES.

YES.

YOU WANT SPEAK IT TO THE MIC? YES, I'LL SPEAK IT TO THE MIC.

I AM PREVIOUSLY A, UM, PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME ORGANIZATION AND TODAY AT OUR BOARD MEETING WE HAD RECEIVED A NOMINATION FOR A NEW ANDEE FROM RAMON CLARES.

AND IT'S FOR HER WORK WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT SHE DOES HERE AT VIA I'D LIKE TO, UH, PRESENT AND THEY'RE BRINGING SOMETHING OUT FOR LAURA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

RIGHT HERE.

ALRIGHT.

AND LOOK AT THOSE ROSES.

PERFECT.

MATCHES MY JACKET.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT'S A NICE, VERY, VERY NICE SURPRISE.

I'M GLAD I MADE IT TODAY TOO.

AND THOSE FROM YOUR ENTIRE BOARD.

THANK YOU.

AW, THANK YOU.

THIS IS WONDERFUL.

I WONDER WHO'S FLOWER SHOP? .

THEY LOOK GREAT.

I'M GONNA PUT THIS RIGHT HERE IF THAT'S OKAY.

AND MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES, UH, OUR COMMENTS.

VERY GOOD.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

THERE ARE NO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

OKAY, GREAT.

THANK YOU.

UH, FIVE O'CLOCK

[4. 5:00 p.m. Public Hearing]

WE ARE NOW ON ITEM FOUR AND STAFF WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION RELAYED TO OUR PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 A TD VIA OPERATING BUDGET, AS WELL AS A PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2027 A TD VIA OPERATING BUDGET.

MR. RIVERA, GOOD EVENING CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

WE ARE HERE THIS EVENING TO PRESENT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE FY 26 AND FY 27 PROPOSED BUDGET FOR VIA N UH, A TD, THE PROPOSED APPENDED BUDGET AND THE FY 27 PROPOSED BUDGET WAS MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2026.

AND NOTICE OF THIS HEARING WAS PROVIDED ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2026 ACROSS VIAS DIGITAL PRESENCE AND IN THE HEART AND IMPRINT IN THE HEARTBEAT.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION AND PUBLIC HEARING IS TO GIVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT AND BUDGET BEFORE BOARD CONSIDERS ACTION.

I'LL START WITH A BRIEF OVERVIEW ON THE OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE FY 26 BUDGET, WHICH WAS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD, UH, IN SEPTEMBER, 2025 IN ADVANCE OF THE START OF THE FISCAL YEAR FOR 2026 ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2025.

AND THEN A REVIEW OF THE FY 27 PROPOSED BUDGET WITH THE FY 26 ADOPTED BUDGET AMENDMENTS VIA FINANCIAL POSITION REMAIN STABLE AND THE GROWTH IN NON-OPERATING REVENUE PROVIDE US WITH THE ABILITY TO REMAIN BALANCED AND FISCALLY SOUND THROUGHOUT FY 2026.

THE OVERALL IMPACT TO THE NET POSITION WITH THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS IS MINIMAL AT 260,000 OR A 0.4%

[00:05:01]

INCREASED REVENUE FROM SALES TAX IS UP 19.7 MILLION AND INVESTMENT INCOME UP BY 10.1 MILLION, WHICH IS RELATED TO FAVORABLE MARKET INTEREST RATES.

ADDITIONALLY, $10 MILLION IS REALIZED FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR THE FLEET BUS BAY ANNEX PROJECT.

CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, THIS IS A HIGH LEVEL VIEW SHOWING THE AMENDED CHANGES TO INCLUDE THE 2.2 MILLION IN OPERATING REVENUE, THE 28.2 MILLION IN OPERATING EXPENSES AND AN INCREASE OF 30.2 MILLION IN NON-OPERATING REVENUE AND EXPENSES, AGAIN, RESULTING IN A NET POSITION OF 67.6 MILLION OR A $200,000 DIFFERENCE FROM ADOPTED.

AND THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION ON THE AMENDED 2026 BUDGET.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IT IS NOW 5 23, UH, PM IN THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL CONSIDER THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 A TD VIA OPERATING BUDGET AS WELL AS A PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2027 A TD VIA OPERATING BUDGET.

UM, DID WE ALREADY, WE ALREADY WENT THROUGH THAT.

YEP, YEP.

THERE ARE NO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

OKAY.

AND SO THIS IS A NEXT ITEM.

UH, THIS IS, UH, WE HAVE THE 27 PROPOSED BUDGET.

WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN YET PRESENTATION TO DO FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING AS WELL.

BONNIE, DID YOU DO BOTH IT? YES.

OKAY.

OKAY, GREAT.

ALL RIGHT.

SO OUR FY 27 PROPOSED REVENUE BUDGET TOTALS 433.7 MILLION AS SHOWN IN THE PIE CHART SELLS TAXES.

OUR PRIMARY FUNDING MECHANISM GENERATING $340.1 MILLION OR 79% OF THE TOTAL AGENCY REVENUE GRANTS AND FEDERAL FUNDS COMES IN SECOND CONTRIBUTING TO 53.7 MILLION OR 12%, WHILE OTHER REVENUE ACCOUNTS FOR 22.8 MILLION OR 5% FAST PASSENGER FA ACCOUNT FOR 17.1 MILLION, WHICH REPRESENTS ONLY 4% OF OUR TOTAL OPERATING REVENUE MIX.

THE PROPOSED FY 27 OPERATING BUDGET IS 383.8 MILLION, WHICH REPRESENTS A 38.1 MILLION OR 11% INCREASE OVER THE FY 26 FORECAST TO SUPPORT SERVICE EXPANSION, MAINTAIN CURRENT SERVICE LEVELS AND ADVANCED CASE A INITIATIVES KEY GROWTH CATALYSTS INCLUDE 260.6 MILLION IN LABOR AND FRIDGES DI DRIVEN BY A 3.5% SALARY RAGE INCREASE, TOTALING 5.1 MILLION, 14.7 MILLION INCREASE FOR VIA CARE AND PENSION COSTS WHILE THE REMAINING INCREASE DUE TO PERSONNEL CHANGES INCLUDING 27 NET NEW ADDED POSITIONS.

IN ADDITION, INCREASES IN PURCHASE TRANSPORTATION TO MEET SERVICE DEMAND INCREASES IN FUEL COSTS, AND WHILE ISOLATING 27.6 27.6 MILLION IN TEMPORARY ONE-TIME EXPENSES.

THESE ONE-TIME EXPENSES INCLUDE A LINE ITEMS SUCH AS SHORT-TERM LEASE OF RIGHT OF WAY FOR SILVER LINE PROJECT AND STATE OF GOOD REPAIR OPERATING COSTS.

REVIEWING THE FY 27 PROPOSED BUDGET BY GROUP AND DIVISION, THE 38.1 MILLION OVERALL OPERATING BUDGET INCREASES TO 3 83 0.33 83.8 MILLION, AND IS PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY NON-DEPARTMENTAL EXPENSES WITHIN THE BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES GROUP.

THIS IS, UH, AGAIN DRIVEN BY OUR, UM, VIA CARE, HEALTHCARE AND PENSION OBLIGATIONS.

OUR OPERATIONAL INVESTMENTS ALSO PLAY A MAJOR ROLE AND LED BY 8.2 MILLION INCREASE IN FLEET AND FACILITIES FOR CNG FUEL AND SALARY ADJUSTMENTS ALONGSIDE 4.4 MILLION IN TRANSPORTATION FOR EXPANDED VIA LINK AND PARATRANSIT SERVICES.

A VIEW OF OUR AUTHORIZED POSITION YEAR OVER YEAR SHOWS AN INCREASE OF 27 NET NEW ROLES FOR A TOTAL OF 2,521 POSITIONS PROPOSED IN FY 27.

IT'S CONTINUING A DELIBERATE MULTI-YEAR GROWTH TRAJECTORY FROM 2298 AND 25.

THAT PRI PRIORITIZES FRONTLINE CAPACITY BY ADDING THE 13 NEW VAN OPERATORS AND NINE TRANSIT AMBASSADORS AS WELL AS CONTINUED OPERATING AND PROJECT SUPPORT.

THIS INCREASE CONTINUES TO SUPPORT SERVICE EXPANSION WHILE ENSURING WE ARE MAINTAINING CURRENT SERVICE LEVELS.

REVIEWING THE PROPOSED 27 CAPITAL BUDGET TOTALS 383.4 MILLION WITHIN OUR BROADER 1.1 BILLION FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT

[00:10:01]

AND THE REMAINING 38% COVERS ESSENTIAL MULTI-YEAR AGENCY INFRASTRUCTURE LED BY 64.8 MILLION FOR REVENUE VEHICLES AND 15 MILLION FOR OPERATIONAL FACILITIES, WHICH IS MAINLY SUPPORTING MAINTENANCE ANCILLARY SPACES.

THE FY 27 TO FY 31 FINANCIAL FORECAST INCLUDES A TOTAL REVENUE FOR FY 27, PROJECTED AT 4433.7 MILLION.

DRIVEN HE HEAVILY BY SALES TAX SUPPORTING A PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET OF 383.8 MILLION, WHICH REPRESENTS AND 38.1 MILLION INCREASE OVER 26 FORECASTS WHILE MAINTAINING STRONG POSITIVE NET OPERATING INCOME.

THAT AGGREGATES TO 188.3 MILLION OVER THE FIVE YEAR OUTLOOK.

LASTLY, WE PROTECT, UH, WE PROJECT TO END FY 27 WITH A STRONG 466.6 MILLION RESERVE BALANCE RESERVES DRAWN DOWN BY 399.8 MILLION OVER THE FIVE YEAR PLAN TO 241.6 MILLION IN FY 31.

AS CASH IS SPENT DOWN TO DELIVER MAJOR CAPITAL COMMITMENTS SUCH AS THE VIA RAPID PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THIS SCHEDULED SPEND, DOWN BOARD MANDATED RESERVES REMAIN FULLY PROTECTED, CONSISTENTLY MAINTAINING 60 DAYS OF WORKING CAPITAL AND 60 DAYS IN STABILIZATION FUND ALONGSIDE DEDICATED BOND AND KS M RESERVES.

AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION FOR THE 27 PROPOSED BUDGET.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY QUESTIONS? TRUSTEES? NO TRUSTEES QUESTIONS? YOU HAVE A MOTION? I SO MOVE.

SECOND.

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT.

MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU.

NEXT ITEM.

AND DO WE, THAT WAS FOR THE 26TH AND THEN NOW YOU READ IT THE 27TH.

DO WE NEED TWO DIFFERENT MOTIONS FOR APPROVAL? DO YOU WANT TWO DIFFERENT MOTIONS, BOND, OR IS THAT, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S DO THE 26TH AMENDMENT FIRST AND THEN, AND THEN WE CAN DO, SO THAT WAS THE 27 THAT YOU JUST PRESENTED.

IT WAS BOTH.

IT WAS, IT WAS BOTH.

OKAY.

SO YOU WANT ME TO, YOU WANT US TO SEPARATE THEN? YES.

SO CAN WE DO A 2026 AMENDMENT,

[5. Fiscal Year 2026 Proposed Budget Amendments]

SECOND.

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND NOW THE FISCAL YEAR 27.

PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET.

SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND

[6. Fiscal Year 2027 Proposed Operating Budget ]

PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET AS PRESENTED FOR MOTION.

ALL RIGHT, SO NOW WE NEED A THIRD MOTION.

VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU.

THERE YOU GO.

MOTION FOR AS PRESENTED.

SO MOVED.

MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU.

ONE MORE.

ALL RIGHT.

SO WE'RE DOING THIS ALL TOGETHER? YES.

UH, FISCAL YEAR

[7. Fiscal Year 2027-2031 Capital Program]

SO MOVED A MOTION.

SECOND.

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT.

UH, WE ARE GONNA RECESS AND CONVENE AS THE A TD MEETING TO ADDRESS THOSE BUDGET ITEMS AND THEN AFTERWARDS WE WILL RECONVENE TO THE VIA MEETING AND GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION.

SO I AM GONNA, LET'S SEE, 5:30 PM AND I'M GONNA RECESS THE VIA BOARD MEETING AND CONVENE THE A TD BOARD MEETING TO ADDRESS THE A TD BUDGET ITEMS. IT IS NOW 5 31 AND

[ATD 1. Call to Order ]

DO WE HAVE, UH, ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? NO ANNOUNCEMENTS MA'AM.

CHAIR.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE.

ANY CITIZENS TO BE HEARD? NO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

VERY GOOD, THANK YOU.

AND THEN WE

[ATD 4. 5:00 p.m. Public Hearing]

WE JUST HEARD, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANOTHER, UH, PRESENTATION, UM, CONCERNING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 A TD VIA OPERATING BUDGET AS WELL AS A PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2027 A TD VIA OPERATING BUDGET.

SO THE PRESENTATIONS AVAILABLE FOR THE A TD PUBLIC HEARING ARE THE SAME AS PRESENTED FOR THE VIA BOARD.

SO I, UH, I CAN PRESENT THE INFORMATION AGAIN IF THE BOARD DESIRES.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS TO BE HEARD FOR THIS ONE? OKAY, THANK YOU.

SO AT THIS TIME I'M CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING.

UH, AND THEN LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE INDIVIDUAL, UM, AMENDMENTS.

AND ACTION PLEASE.

SO FOR FISCAL

[ATD 5. Fiscal Year 2026 Proposed Budget Amendments]

SO MOVED.

SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION.

AND SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED?

[00:15:01]

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR FISCAL

[ATD 6. Fiscal Year 2027 Proposed Operating Budget ]

PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND AS PRESENTED.

SO MOVED.

MOTION? SECOND.

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

AND THEN I THINK THAT WAS IT.

DO WE HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING? WE DO NOT HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING FOR THIS MEETING.

VERY GOOD.

WE HAVE A MOTION.

AND SECOND ENC, CLOSE THE MEETING PLEASE.

SO MOVED.

WE A MOTION.

SECOND.

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

UH, WE DO HAVE A COMMENT.

[Additional Item]

I, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND THE PRESENTATIONS YOU'VE DONE OVER CRUNCHING THOSE NUMBERS FOR A LONG TIME.

, BUT IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF DEDICATION AND I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK THE ENTIRE STAFF.

THANK YOU, TRUSTEE.

ALL RIGHT.

UH, NO, LET'S SEE.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

OKAY, THE A TD MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

WE'LL NOW RETURN TO THE

[1. Call to Order (Part 2 of 2)]

SO IT IS NOW 5 33.

WE'LL NOW RECONVENE THE VIA BOARD MEETING AND BEFORE WE GO INTO CLOSED SESSION, I TOO WANNA THANK, UH, STAFF FOR YOUR HARD WORK THESE LAST FEW WEEKS.

UH, I KNOW WE'RE AT A DIFFERENT TIME AT VIA RIGHT NOW.

UH, AND AS YOU CAN SEE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, YOU HAD A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT FROM TRUSTEES.

SO APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE AND ANSWERING ALL OUR QUESTIONS.

I THINK IN THE LONG RUN YOU'LL SEE THAT, UM, THIS IS GONNA BEAR MANY, MANY FRUITS FROM THE LABOR THAT YOU ARE PRODUCING TODAY.

SO REALLY APPRECIATE IT FROM, UM, BOTTOM UP, TOP DOWN.

THANK YOU.

SO AT THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA MOVE

[8 *Legal Briefing"]

UH, TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2026, AND IT IS NOW 5:34 PM AND THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL OFFICIALLY GO INTO CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION AS PERMITTED UNDER THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT.

THE ITEM WILL, WE WILL DISCUSS DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS AS FOLLOWS.

UH, ITEM EIGHT, A ENTITLED LEGAL BRIEFING.

A UH, CITY OF CONVERSE ELECTION, WHICH IS ALLOWED AS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 5 1 0.07.

ONE ENTITLED CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY.

ALL PERSONS WHO ARE AUTHORIZED TO ATTEND THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, PLEASE PROCEED TO THE SMALL CONFERENCE ROOM.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY NOT ATTEND OR MONITOR THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IN ANY MANNER.

ALL RIGHT, TRUSTEES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.

IT IS NOW 6:16 PM AND WE ARE OFFICIALLY COMING OUT OF A CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING AGENDA ITEM EIGHT, A NOTED DELIBERATIONS OR PUBLIC POLICY OF A VOTE TAKING OCCURRED DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

OUR FAVORITE ITEM ADJOURNMENT.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? A MOTION SECOND.

WE HAVE A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT.

THE VIA MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.